Twins Greatest Trade Acquisitions Are Their Own

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins are currently scouring the trade market, and it remains highly likely that they will be active prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Despite any outside additions costing money, the internal talent that is already being paid remains the great assets down the stretch.

 

With just days remaining prior to the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline, you can bet that Derek Falvey is working the phones. Despite massive payroll cuts from ownership going into the year, there just isn’t a legitimate explanation to not supplement Rocco Baldelli’s roster. Short of adding a starting pitcher like Yusei Kikuchi though, the splashes shouldn’t be expected to make waves.

A couple of years ago the Twins swung big and added arms like Tyler Mahle and Jorge Lopez. Both went horribly wrong and they are moves still chided to this day. There shouldn’t be any realistic expectation for those types of moves to be made this time around, but waves could come like a tsunami if everything goes right internally.

Carlos Correa
On the injured list following the All-Star Break, Correa is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his other foot. A year ago that sapped him of looking even a decent percentile of himself, and the hope would be that he can avoid the same outcome this time around. With a 3.6 fWAR, he is the current leader for the Twins, and as a deserving All-Star, he is having one of the best seasons he has posted during his career.

Correa isn’t going to miss the rest of the season, and he’s going to play through some pain. If the issue can be mitigated and managed to the point that it isn’t an issue, the outcome would be a best case scenario. Correa has been a staple for Baldelli this year, and remaining as such would be massive.

Royce Lewis
Having missed substantial time this season due to a pair of soft tissue injuries, Lewis is back off the injured list. When healthy, he has been arguably the best player in baseball on a per-game basis. It is impossible to quantify his impact for Minnesota, and making sure he remains capable of providing that the rest of the way is a must.

It’s likely that the groin issue was tied to the quad issue. Lewis may need to do additional treatment or be cautious with his preparation the rest of the way, but if he can be healthy, he’ll be a problem (for the opposition). We already saw what Lewis did in his first taste of the postseason.

Pablo Lopez
Unlike the first two names here, the Twins ace just needs to be himself. All season the numbers have suggested he isn’t the guy that lifting the hood says he is. He has a sub 3.00 ERA over his last five starts, and he’s striking everyone out again. Despite getting hit around by the Astros during that stretch, opposing hitters have posted just a .505 ops against him.

Lopez doesn’t need to be Cy Young good the rest of the way, but if he pitches like the guy that Minnesota extended then opposing lineups are in trouble. No one will care what the regular season ERA was if Lopez can take the ball during game one of the postseason and shove. No better arm will be moved at the deadline.

Brock Stewart
Out since May 1 with what the Twins initially called shoulder tendinitis, Stewart has thrown just 13 1/3 innings this year. Similar to last season, he’ll return for the stretch run, and has been arguably baseball’s best reliever when on the mound. The Twins have continued to believe in Stewart and get him right. The version that takes the ball is virtually unhittable.

When looking at adding relief help, the Twins should be scouring the market. They could use more additions from the left side with Caleb Thielbar struggling and Kody Funderburk hurt. Still, no arm moved in the next handful of days will hold a candle to what Stewart is, including Tanner Scott.

Justin Topa
Yet to pitch for the Twins after suffering a knee injury as spring training wrapped up, Minnesota is still waiting to cash in on the Jorge Polanco deal. That trade was not made for Anthony De Sclafani, and Gabriel Gonzalez won’t pay off for years. Topa was great as a regular reliever for the Seattle Mariners last season, and eating middle-innings for Baldelli could be key.

Recently kicking off a rehab assignment, Topa is tracking toward a return. His presence in the bullpen would be equal to grabbing a mid-level reliever from a selling team, but he wouldn’t cost anything to put him in the group. Topa was a solid pickup this offseason, and turning him loose is something that Minnesota must be excited about.

The fact that the Twins have internal options getting healthy shouldn’t stop them from adding. All of these players are among the names mentioned because they have been unavailable. However, the path to crushing the competition is more reliant on internal talent than it is figuring out which trade target can be had and for how much.

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[mikelink45]

I will take Miranda if the 12 for 12 guy is back the lineup shifts to overdrive.

The one big need is a left hander to replace Thielbar and Okert.  

[Joe Schmitt]

Surprised not to see Miranda on this list.  

[chpettit19]

I hope they aren't counting on Topa for anything. I think he should be seen as a nice bonus if he finds himself this year, but you absolutely can't say "we don't need to add because Topa is coming back." He's 33 and has 1 good major league season. He's going to have spent the first 2/3 of the season on the IL. Expecting him to be a reliable division race/playoff arm is betting on a lot. 

I hope he's good, and he very well may be, but you can't assume he will be at this point. If there's a chance to add a nice reliever at the deadline, you can't pass on it because of Topa.

[MinnInPa]

Just get Correa, Lewis and Miranda back..offense will start clickin again.. be great if we can get Lefty starter and lefty reliever..but dont sell the Farm

[Jeff K]

We all know the biggest need is another starter; especially with Paddack on the shelf, again.  Between Varland moving to the pen down the stretch and possibly Paddack as well, I feel like the Twins are in great shape with the bullpen.

 

 

 

 

[mickster]

3 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

We all know the biggest need is another starter; especially with Paddack on the shelf, again.  Between Varland moving to the pen down the stretch and possibly Paddack as well, I feel like the Twins are in great shape with the bullpen.

 

 

 

 

Varland in the pen is a weapon - he just needs to accept it.   EXAMPLE - Glen Perkins.......although Varland won't close.

Who goes down tomorrow with Miranda and Lewis back?   Martin and Julien?

 

[Jeff K]

1 minute ago, mickster said:

Varland in the pen is a weapon - he just needs to accept it.   EXAMPLE - Glen Perkins.......although Varland won't close.

Who goes down tomorrow with Miranda and Lewis back?   Martin and Julien?

 

Julien is a relatively simple call...but Martin, man oh man, that's tough.  This is a good problem to have.

[tony&rodney]

The starting pitchers are all critical for the Twins in the next two plus months. Of those possibly returning to full or playable health, Correa is the most important followed by Miranda, Lewis, and Stewart. Anything positive from Topa will be a bonus.

We all hope Royce Lewis can play for several months without getting injured and also hope he can put up numbers on a consistent basis. Lewis as a superstar is the dream but a stretch until such time as he can stay in the lineup. Sometimes the hype for him is just our wishes. Royce is 25 years old, has played in 94 games, and has 379 plate appearances in his career. Bobby Witt Jr. is a 24 year old superstar having played 411 games with 1777 PA. There really isn't a comparison between the two at this time but there may be in five years.

[h2oface]

The best move they could make is just DFA Theilbar. It is pathetic that they keep throwing him out there. They should have done it in ST.

[mickster]

40 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

Julien is a relatively simple call...but Martin, man oh man, that's tough.  This is a good problem to have.

If not Martin, then who?   Farmer is still on the DL.  Margot isn't going anywhere.  IT could be Lee so he can play everyday as Martin is more of a utility.  But then we have Castro at SS until Carlos comes back.    

[Jeff K]

2 minutes ago, mickster said:

If not Martin, then who?   Farmer is still on the DL.  Margot isn't going anywhere.  IT could be Lee so he can play everyday as Martin is more of a utility.  But then we have Castro at SS until Carlos comes back.    

Camargo

[chinmusic]

Correa, Lewis and Lopez; for sure.

After that, many possibilities.

I'd have considered Duran and Buxton for that list.

[LambchoP]

Julien is absolutely lost at the plate. What, 5, 6 strikeouts the last two games. Most of them looking. He's missed a few plays at 2nd that should have been made too. His head is in the wrong place right now. Dude needs a total reset before he becomes a AAAA player. Twins need a starter and a lefty reliever. Go out and get Kikuchi,he shouldn't cost too much. Should not even think of trading Zebby....

[nclahammer]

9 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

Camargo

Camargo for sure.   A third catcher right now is a luxury and the kid needs consistent at bats.

[KBJ1]

Kikuchi would be an intriguing add if indeed his cost isn't steep.

A solid #5 SP, an innings eater and a Lefty out of the pen cone playoff time would fill a lot of our needs!

[Whitey333]

Good choices on the players.  Lopez needs to return to some semblance to last year.  Saying Lewis may be one of the best players in baseball is ridiculous.  So far all he's proven is he is Buxton 2.0. The best players play and perform over the long haul.  I like Lewis as he can be a dynamic inspirational player but don't make the inference of greatness based on such a small sample.

[arby58]

2 hours ago, MinnInPa said:

Just get Correa, Lewis and Miranda back..offense will start clickin again.. be great if we can get Lefty starter and lefty reliever..but dont sell the Farm

Even without three 'big bats' the Twins put up 12 runs in winning the three game series with the Phillies. Yes, they got shut out once (by one of the better starting pitchers in baseball), but that's not too bad considering the Phillies have the second best ERA in MLB. The team is getting good offensive contributions up and down the lineup.

[mickster]

1 hour ago, Jeff K said:

Camargo

That makes sense...........

[old nurse]

An addition of a top of the rotation starter would add far more. Signalling that you want to do more than just make the playoffs is far more beneficial. Shoring up the bullpen so closing out the 7/8/9 innings is not as much vale when the starters are giving up 3-5 runs and the team is behind

 

[USAFChief]

"It'll be just like making a trade."

 

 

Heh.  

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Julien is absolutely lost at the plate. What, 5, 6 strikeouts the last two games. Most of them looking. He's missed a few plays at 2nd that should have been made too. His head is in the wrong place right now. Dude needs a total reset before he becomes a AAAA player.

I don't think Julien can improve a lot in AAA. His OBP there is ridiculous because he knows the AAA strike zone and pitchers at that level are less likely to hit the corners with a strike.

[Doctor Gast]

3 hours ago, Jeff K said:

Julien is a relatively simple call...but Martin, man oh man, that's tough.  This is a good problem to have.

Camargo will be sent down not that tough.

[Doctor Gast]

We had Correa, Lewis, Lopez & Steward last postseason & we don't know that Topa will do much of anything if he returns. What are you trying to spin? IMO we need a top-tier postseason SP. Will we get him? I doubt it. Maybe we'll end up with a hyped-up, washed-up back-of-the-rotation SP & say we're good. We need a good LHRP, will we get him? IDK. 

[mrcharlie]

I would not count on anything from Topa.

If we want to go with 5....

Correa, Lewis, Buxton, Lopez, Santana.

Yes Santana.  He has been clutch since very early. Plays every day and gives us fine play in the field.  If we give him some days off to stay fresh (insert Miranda) he will be critical to our success come September and playoffs.  We know Correa, Lewis and Buxton will be rested; so give Santana that same time while Miranda gets his AB's. 

That is a good INF... Lewis, Correa, Lee, Santana with Miranda and Castro to sub in.  Julien (perhaps Lee) back to AAA.  DFA Farmer and Kirilloff, and promote Keashall and Zebby for stretch run.

[chpettit19]

50 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I don't think Julien can improve a lot in AAA. His OBP there is ridiculous because he knows the AAA strike zone and pitchers at that level are less likely to hit the corners with a strike.

He's definitely in a weird spot. I think AAA can still be of use for him in just refocusing his approach. Getting more aggressive, especially on "get me over" breaking balls. They may not be able to hit corners, but they'll throw him breaking stuff, and that's been his problem.

He's turning into Larnach from the last couple years who was just completely useless against non-fastballs. Julien is now seeing under 50% fastballs which means he's completely hopeless against over 50% of the pitches he sees. He can work on that in AAA.  .080 BA against breaking balls (37.4% of pitches seen) and .083 BA against offspeed (15% of pitches seen) is something that should be worked on in AAA. 

He's also a -6 in "runs" on pitches in the heart of the plate. -12 on the shadow. He's never going to work out if his swing/take in the heart of the zone is -6. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

We had Correa, Lewis, Lopez & Steward last postseason & we don't know that Topa will do much of anything if he returns. What are you trying to spin? IMO we need a top-tier postseason SP. Will we get him? I doubt it. Maybe we'll end up with a hyped-up, washed-up back-of-the-rotation SP & say we're good. We need a good LHRP, will we get him? IDK. 

By this logic teams should trade all the guys they have if they don't win it all*.....adding these guys is 100x better than anything they can add at the deadline, given their restraints. 

*slight exaggeration of your point.

[USAFChief]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

By this logic teams should trade all the guys they have if they don't win it all*.....adding these guys is 100x better than anything they can add at the deadline, given their restraints. 

*slight exaggeration of your point.

They're not adding anything by getting someone back off the IL.

Those players are part of what got the team it's current record. They're accounted for.

Getting Correa back from the IL isn't anything at all like a trade. 

Correa already exists as part of the Twins.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

They're not adding anything by getting someone back off the IL.

Those players are part of what got the team it's current record. They're accounted for.

Getting Correa back from the IL isn't anything at all like a trade. 

Correa already exists as part of the Twins.

ok. I'm sure having CC the last 5 games would not have helped at all....not one bit.

[mickster]

4 hours ago, Jeff K said:

Camargo

Isn't he already in St. Paul